The 2013 Dodge Dart hits 40mpg, earns Fiat 5% more Chrysler

Since Fiat has taken majority control of the Chrysler Group from the US Government there hasn’t been much talk of Chrysler ownership but with the upcoming 2013 Dodge Dart reportedly hitting 40 miles per gallon in preliminary testing late last month – Fiat has met the final requirement set forth by the feds when Fiat purchased the first piece of the American automaker in 2009.

The big news here is the verification that the 2013 Dodge Dart has indeed topped the 40 miles per gallon plateau in the early steps of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s certification system. Fiat and Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne announced when the Dart was first teased that it would be the first Chrysler Group vehicle to hit 40mpg and it would reach that level with the help of Fiat-developed technology and that the new Dart would be built at Chrysler’s Belvidere, Illinois assembly plant. One of the requirements set by the government when Fiat bought the Chrysler Group was that they would receive a “free” 5% of Chrysler ownership for introducing an American-built, American-sold Chrysler Group vehicle that hits 40mpg with Fiat technology. Now that the Dart has placed itself in the elite class of non-hybrid vehicles that can reach that impressive mark, Fiat now has 58.5% ownership of Chrysler - leaving the portion that they do not own in the company (41.5) in the hands of the United Auto Workers healthcare trust VEBA.

The 2013 Dodge Dart, which is heavily based on the current Alfa Romeo Giulietta, will combine the structural workings of the popular Alfa model which has been adapted (read: enlarged) for the US market with a lineup of highly efficient 4-cylinder engines. This includes the 2.0 and 2.4L “Tigershark” engines (formerly known as the World Engines) as well as the 1.4L MultiAir mill currently offered in a variety of fuel-sipping Fiat models, including the American Fiat 500.

The Chrysler Group has been missing out on the popularity of the C segment in the US which has grown exponentially since the trendy Dodge Neon was killed off to make room for the Dodge Caliber. The Caliber never did as well as Chrysler had hoped but with the introduction of the edgy new Dodge Dart – and the fact that it will offer at least 40 miles per gallon – Chrysler may finally have the C segment sedan that will allow them to compete with the likes of the Ford Focus, the Chevy Cruze and the Toyota Corolla.

The 2013 Dodge Dart will make its grand debut at the 2012 North American International Auto Show next week at Detroit’s Cobo Hall and TorqueNews will be there – bringing you a closer look at the new Dart and all of the other big debuts from the Motor City show!